Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1887-09-10
My Story.


overlooked the sea.
1t was a charming place. with il
great punches of shrubery and age,
trees, but we were never allowed {,
stay thcre-papa. kept us travelin!
from country to country, from city tc
city. in search of moldy pieces of furni
ture. antique vases, and bits of crum
bling monuments of all ages and de
scriptiOns. until | used 10 tell Maud /,
that we never should again know the
comforts of a home, or be allowed tc
remain in one place long enough to be.
come acquainted and get married as
other girls did
"lrs true" she would say with a
smile Of resignation. Papa cares
more to-day for the welfare of that
Egyptian maiden over there than he
does for ours, Bel"
laughed little at this and glanced
over at the still, straight form, wrap
ped in coarse mating, and carefully
boxed. which papa obliged us to keep
in our own room for safety. regardless
OF any superstit Gus fears which III ght
trouble us. or any fanciful dreams
which might be inspired by the con-
slant association with defunct dams C
OF three thousand years of age.
IT was genuine Egyptian mummy.
and papa expended more toll and care
upon it than he ever did upon any liv-
ing woman, besides dollars enough to
have portioned off both his daughters.
And to crown all, he insisted upon
our tolerating its unwelcome presence;
we must have an eye upon it constantly,
be could not think of send ng it home
without gong with il himself. 1t might
be broken BY careless expressmer, and
It's sacred dust b. mingled with mere
plcb an soil, and, stronger reason than
all, she might meet with some admirer
even more alfectionate than our doting
papa, and be spirited away like the
far bride i'll the poem of young Loch-
invar. -
But then we had long dwelt i'm close
proximity TO the st-off bones of giants
and mastodons, and relics taken from
the graves of druids, and Cleopatra,
as we had named her. proved TO be a
not intrusive companion after all; so
we never thought of her unless it was
when we We're talking over our griev-
ances and wishing That we might at |
least have one admrer apiece and be |
like other girls of our own age.
But we did not know-ah! how could |
We know?-that that girl sh wish was |
but the preface TO fate which either
Maudie or myself would have la d |
down our lifo to have kept from the
other
All. why need it have been! How
sad to know that if even the strongest
affection OF woman be fully returned.
hat some underlying sorrow must ac-
company it to mar the happiness which
would otierw sc be perfect
do not think two sisters were ever
learer to each other than Maudie and
myself.
Maud and Mable were our names;
she was IL. was 20. We were both
Diunettcs, and looked so much alike
hat one was often mistaken for the
,ther.
My own eyes told me that Maudie
vas pretty and bewitching, and | was
'ver pleased to be told that my sister
esembled me greatly.
1t was the very day after our little
in our room that papa
anne nto our presence fidgeting about
With excitement concerning purchase
lie had just made.
II have secured all the old pictures
nd the plate belonging to the old
Iorazzi palace" he said, breathlessly. !
The palace has been shut up for years,
nd L made the best of my opportunity
nd bought up everything OF value as .
DON as it was opened.
But how did they come to open il? ]
supposed it was nothing but ruin," {
sked Maudie.
1t has just been purchased by a {
Dung American gentleman, who :
iinks the pictures are worthless be- 7
ause they have been mutilate6 some \
hat, and that the plate is but pewter, f
nj he may be ght, but it is old and q
nc crest upon it would sell it in New
ork for ten times the price l pad for v
HE must be rarity-this American g
ho believes anything which belongs to =
i'm IS not simon pure perfection in its
av." -.
He is a very agreeable gentleman +,
y dears, replied my father, smiling 8,
iyly. land is coming this evening TO Il
tend theIheater with us. SO that YOU
III nave chance to Judge for your S,
'Oh, goodie." l cried. LAUGHING. q
One does get so tired OF going about n
IN only ones father for an attend
u. As#s - ..
Il knew that news would please you. n,
d. returned papa. n
- Ii only he is young" put in Mauda. M
,apa'S Young gentlemen have a pro. h,
King way of turning into m ddle aged su
IN who have just finished some p:eee N
br ca -brac, warranted to be a thous- nj
dyc1rs Old rFf p "
''Ii,is Arericn VII turn ont differ 10
-, rep' Ell papa No
J on are nsi.-,, the wrong word, pa- he
NJ A-.''". 10 rrcl;SHnan who ~
r. o. MS '..i t. ~ Paris
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n the poor creature. Bel worlS ho
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